The Nigerian College of Aviation Technology opened its campus at Minna Airport for flight training. The Niger State Government signed a deal with NCAT last year to establish a campus at Minna, where it would station four trainer aircraft.

A statement by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transport Niger state Alhaji Abdullahi explained that the training commenced with ‘ground school studies’ last year adding that the students are now ready to start ‘flight training with small aircrafts’. Abdullahi explained that due to the nature of the exercise small aircrafts will hover around the state at a low level. He explained that the public should not panic at the sight of such aircrafts as they bear no security risks to anybody.

Three new helicopters arrived at Lagos Airport this week. A Bell 429 EMS (5N-NEM) for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), as well as a Bell 206L-4 (5N-BZC) for the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, where she will join her sistership 5N-BZB. The third, hidden chopper, a Bell 429 (5N-MDA), is the first of five helicopters of this type for the Police Air Wing.

In general, air safety in Nigeria has improved since the major crashes in 2005-2006, but still a number of serious incidents in which lives are lost and/or an aircraft is written off occur every year. Not all of them are reported in the press, and only three (the Sosoliso, Wings Aviation and Dana Air crashes) are mentioned on the website of the Accident Investigation Bureau.

Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Etihad Airlines were denied landing rights at Abuja Airport and Kano Airport. Instead, the Minister requested these airlines to commence flights to Enugu Airport. This report was later denied by a spokesman of the Minister.

The Minister of Aviation warned airlines not to make any air returns because of bad weather conditions:

…there is absolutely no reason and justification for an aircraft to make an air return on the basis of poor weather condition since initial weather report from the AIS would have been adequate to indicate the futility of an initial take-off under such harsh weather conditions. This recklessness on the part of airline operators and pilots, the minister warned, will no longer be tolerated and infractions would be met with serious sanctions as she noted that this has the potential of compromising the safety of the nation’s airspace.

The Ministry of Aviation denies that it intends to privatise the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, rather it wants ‘to reposition’ the aviation college.

No money was withdrawn from the BASA fund to finance the airport remodelling excercise in Nigeria, according to the Minister of Aviation.

Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, announced last year August that it would commence a helicopter flying school with assistance of Bristow Helicopters. Two Bell 206 L4 helicopters were ordered to this end. But it seems now that they have put aside these plans, as the unused helicopters are put up for sale:

A Tampico TB-9 training aircraft belonging to NCAT made an emergency landing at a Katoge village, about 20 kilometres away from Kano. Three occupants of escaped unhurt and the aircraft was not badly damaged. The aircraft was to land in Zaria but could not do so due to heavy downpour in the late afternoon. It therefore diverted to Kano Airport, but developed technical problems and was forced to make an emergency landing.

United Airlines delayed the start of planned flights to Lagos, Nigeria, because of regulatory issues.

The FAAN has completed the installation of the airfield lighting system at Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri.

Bristow has signed a $1.5m agreement with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, for the provision of technical support.

An Arik Air B737-700 (5N-MJE) was hit by a bird at Calabar Airport on 26 April 2010.

Although Arik Air withdrew the A330-200 from its schedule, a spokesman of the airline assured that the aircraft will be deployed on the Lagos-Johannesburg route before the start of the World Cup.

Aero had to ground the aircraft it leases from CHC, mainly the helicopters and Dash 8s used for the oil and gas industry, as the airline could no longer pay the bills.

Dapo Olumide tendered his resignation as CEO of Nigerian Eagle. The COO of the airline, Kinfe Kahssaye, is appointed as his successor.

Does anyone know which individuals or institutions are behind the new charter airline TopBrass Aviation? Its CEO, Roland Iyayi, was Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). He was arrested by the EFCC in 2008 for misuse of the N19.5 billion Aviation Intervention Fund.